Berne was founded in 1191 by Duke Berthold V von Zähringen and was part of the Holy Roman Empire. It was made a free imperial city by the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II in 1218 after Berthold died without an heir.

Berne was founded in 1191 by Duke Berthold V von Zähringen and was part of the Holy Roman Empire. It was made a free imperial city by the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II in 1218 after Berthold died without an heir.

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In 1353, Berne joined the Swiss confederation. After several successful conquests, Berne became the largest independent city state north of the Alps. It was occupied by French troops in 1798 during the French Revolutionary Wars, and was stripped of a large part of its territory. The city has been considered the Switzerland's "Federal City" and therefore the de facto capital since 1848, as it is the seat of both the Federal Council and Federal Assembly.

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In 1353, Berne joined the Swiss confederation. After several successful conquests, Berne became the largest independent city state north of the Alps. It was occupied by French troops in 1798 during the French Revolutionary Wars, and was stripped of a large part of its territory. The city has been considered Switzerland's "Federal City" and therefore the de facto capital since 1848, as it is the seat of both the Federal Council and Federal Assembly.

[[Image:Bern_old_town_clock.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Berne Old Town Clock|High technology for the 13th century. The 'Zytglogge' clock tower is found in the center of the old-town.]]

[[Image:Bern_old_town_clock.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Berne Old Town Clock|High technology for the 13th century. The 'Zytglogge' clock tower is found in the center of the old-town.]]

Berne[70] (German: Bern), the capital of Switzerland, is a small to medium sized city with a population of about 130,000 in the city proper and roughly 350,000 in the agglomeration area. It sits on a peninsula formed by the meandering turns of the river Aare. The remarkable design coherence of the Berne's old town has earned it a place on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It features 4 miles of arcaded walkways along streets decked out with fountains and clock-towers. Bern was one of the eight host cities in the 2008 European Football Championships.

Berne was founded in 1191 by Duke Berthold V von Zähringen and was part of the Holy Roman Empire. It was made a free imperial city by the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II in 1218 after Berthold died without an heir.

In 1353, Berne joined the Swiss confederation. After several successful conquests, Berne became the largest independent city state north of the Alps. It was occupied by French troops in 1798 during the French Revolutionary Wars, and was stripped of a large part of its territory. The city has been considered Switzerland's "Federal City" and therefore the de facto capital since 1848, as it is the seat of both the Federal Council and Federal Assembly.

High technology for the 13th century. The 'Zytglogge' clock tower is found in the center of the old-town.

The main language spoken in Berne is Bernese-German, a local Swiss-German dialect, although most people also speak Standard German. The dialect is mostly spoken, but also used in text messages etc. In official publications and announcements, Standard German is used.

English seems to be supplanting French as the favorite second language of the Bernese, even though the canton of Berne is a bilingual German and French speaking canton. However, many people you encounter as a tourist will be able to speak both so it's certainly worth a try.

Berne's small international airport Bern-Belp (BRN) [71] with direct flights from CologneMunich, Barcelona,Paris, London via LCY (city airport) as well as several seasonal destinations in Europe lies just a few kilometers south of the city. A taxi ride into the city costs approx. CHF 45.-

Bern is conveniently located in the vast network of Swiss Federal Railway between Geneva, Basel and Zurich and is served twice per hour by express (InterCity) trains from each of these cities as well as Zürich and Geneva airports. Hourly express trains take you into all directions, including Interlaken, Brig, and Lucerne.

For more information:

Swiss Federal Railway, ☎+41 (0)900 300 300 (CHF 1.19/min), [1]. Provides a useful online travel planner which includes information about local bus and tram services as well as rail services and can plan your journey from door to door.edit

Swiss Travel System, [2]. is a great source of information for finding the best ticket as a tourist. It is a must to visit, as regular, full fare tickets are expensive. This site tells you what is the best option for your needs.edit

Berne has an excellent public transportation system, with frequent local city services provided by trams, trolleybuses and buses, together with an S-Bahn rail system for longer journeys into the surrounding suburbs.

The city center of Berne is easily accessible by foot. You can get around the main shopping area and restaurants simply by walking. But if you are going to go outside of the city center in areas like Guisanplatz, it's better to go by tram unless you want to be walking for 45 minutes.

As in most Swiss cities, free parking space is rare and the paying ones in the city center are quite expensive. As the center is quite small and all of the major attractions are within a mile walking distance it's a good choice to park in a "park and ride" and take public transport to the center of town.

You can get a free bike for four hours at "Bern rollt" [72]. All you need is a passport or an ID and 20 CHF for deposit, and you can explore Berne by bike. After four hours, you'll have to pay 1 CHF for each additional hour.
There are three places where you can get bikes (see map [73]): Milchgässli/Hauptbahnhof (main station), open all year. Hirschengraben and Zeughausgasse, open from May to October.

Berne is full of history and museums. It also has quite a bit of public art, all of which is marked on a walking map which is available from the tourist office in the train station for free.

Berne Historical Museum, Helvetiaplatz 5, ☎+41 (0)31 350 77 11, [10]. Monday closed. Switzerland's second largest historic museum, combining under one roof one of the country's most important ethnographic collections together with the Bernese historical collections from prehistory to the present day. It includes the Einstein Museum.CHF 13 for permanent exhibition, CHF 18 for Einstein Museum. edit

Bundeshaus (Federal Palace of Switzerland), Bundesplatz 3, [11]. The Swiss House of Parliaments is a representative building dominating the Square. Constructed by the end of 19th century. Free guided tour when the Parliament is not in session. During session only access to the spectators ranks.Free. edit

Einsteinhaus, Kramgasse 49, ☎+41 (0)31 312 00 91 ([email protected]), [12]. 10AM to 5PM (4PM Saturdays) March to October, 1PM to 5PM (Noon to 4PM Sat) March and February. Einsteinhaus is closed on Sundays in March and February. It's completely closed in January. Albert Einstein rented this small flat with his wife during his years working at the Swiss patent office. Their first child, Hans Albert, and the special and general theories of relativity were born here, where Einstein's writing desk overlooked the busy street and its lovely clock-tower. There are numerous photos and original documents from Einstein's life, work, and speeches.CHF 6/4.5 Adults/Students.. edit

Invasion of Berne -- successful!, [13]. As you explore, you may notice these small alien graffiti mosaics. GAME NOT OVER was declared by the anonymous Parisian artist "Invader" in 1998. Since then, space invaders have been reappearing on the walls, bridges and roofs of cities across the world, most famously on the Hollywood sign and in several locations in the Louvre. Two additional Swiss cities have been invaded: Geneva and Lausanne. Those with 10 EUR, a longer visit, and a weird sense of humor might consider ordering a map and doing the space invader tour.edit

Kunstmuseum (Museum of fine Arts), Hodlerstrasse 12, ☎+41 (0)31 328 09 44, [14]. Closed on Mondays. The Museum of Fine Arts Berne is known for its collection of works of painters such as Pablo Picasso, Ferdinand Hodler and Meret Oppenheim. It is the oldest art museum in Switzerland with a permanent collection and houses works covering eight centuries. edit

Zentrum Paul Klee, Monument im Fruchtland 3 (Bus No. 12 to the end of the line), ☎+41 (0)31 359 01 01, [17]. 10-17 except closed Mon.. The Paul Klee centre which is in a modern wave-shaped building presents the world's most important collection of works by Paul Klee (rotating exhibition drawn from 4000 works, or 40% of his oeuvre). If you plan on visiting, then the CHF20 "Berne card" validated for that day (show it at the ticket counter to receive a complimentary pass) is totally worth its price - you'll spend about that for bus round trip and the ticket alone.CHF 20.- (in 2013). edit

Zytglogge, [18]. The Clock Tower near the center of the old town, built around the turn of the 13th century, is a great thing to see. On the hour, every hour throughout the day, there is a stunning display of early animatronic technology. The locals are proud to tell you it's "the longest running act in show business". A few minutes before the hour, it begins with a little song and some drumming by a jester on top. On the hour, bears and an old bearded king get into the act. It's great for kids to see. The clock tells time too, as well as the month, day, sign of the zodiac and phase of the moon. There are guided tours inside the tower that will let you have a look at the clockwork while the show is displayed outside. It can be booked at the tourist office and is definitely worth it if you love mechanics.Free. edit

Bear Park, [19]. Open all day. Berne is inseparably linked with bears. According to legend the city’s founder, Duke Berchtold V von Zähringen, named the city after the first animal to be caught here. The saga lives on in the form of the real-live bears in the Bear Park and the heraldic bear in the Bernese coat of arms. Members of the RSPCA have found the former bear pits quite depressing. The site was recently (2009) enlarged into a park, and the bears can now go for a swim in the river. They also have a cave for hibernation, but this is all still far from enough for such large mammals, and is still considered cruel and unnecessary. The Bear Park can be reached by bus number 12 from the railway station in Berne in direction Zentrum Paul Klee and getting off at "Bärengraben" bus stop.Free. edit

Gurten, [20]. The Gurten is a lovely hill just outside the city. It features a park and great view over the city on one side and a nice panorama of the Bernese alps on the other. The park is visited heavily by locals to play ball, to barbecue or to just lie in the sun. Tourists are not an unusual sight, though this little attraction is missed by most of the many that visit the city. Hiking paths lead in all directions and you will almost certainly stumble across some cows when walking around. A wooden look-out tower allows an even better panorama than that you would already have. If you get hungry or thirsty, a good budget restaurant service and self-service provides you with all you need. Families with children should not miss the cool playground. The Gurten can be easily reached with tram number 9 from the railway station in Berne in direction Wabern. Exit the tram at station Gurtenbahn and walk a few steps up the hill. Then take the Gurtenbahn [21], a panorama train that will bring you on top in just 5 minutes, round-trip tickets are CHF 9 for adults or CHF 4.50 for children (BernCard is valid), departure usually every 20 minutes depending on daytime. A club called up-town features various cultural events on weekends and once a year in summer national, European and a few international music stars (among others Alanis Morisette, Skin, Moloko and Jimmy Cliff in 2003) visit it for the Gurtenfestival, an open-air music festival [22]. Gurten is a must see for everybody visiting the city for longer than a day.Free. edit

Rosengarten, [23]. Little park with a splendid view over the old town. Situated close to the bear pits (follow the path that goes up the hill opposite the bear-pit-roundabout. Quite popular (and populated) during lunchtime. The Rosengarten can be easily reached by bus number 10 from the railway station in Berne in direction of Ostermundigen Rüti.edit

SC Bern. The SCB is Berne's ice-hockey team. The stadium is the second largest in Europe and is regularly sold out, producing an impressive atmosphere in the arena. It is also mentionable that the SC Bern boasts the highest average attendance outside the NHL. To get there, just take Tram Nr. 9 towards Guisanplatz and get off at the terminal stop.edit

Swimming in the river Aare. On hot summer days, let yourself drift for some kilometers in the river Aare. Good (and safe) stretches are between the Kornhausbridge and the public pool of the Lorraine (old fashioned swimming pool just next to the river) and between the Eichholz and the public pool of the Marzili. Other stretches such as swimming the bend around the old town (starting at the "Englische Anlagen" to the Lorraine) or the "Bremgartenschlaufe" are only to be done by good swimmers accompanied by experienced locals. Note: Some sections of the river cannot be passed by swimmers due to barriers of hydraulic power stations (e.g. downstream of Marzili and downstream of Lorraine). An overview is provided by the Aarekarte [24] (a map showing dangerous areas related to water activities along the river Aare). Up-to-date information about the water level and the water temperature can be found on [25].BTW: Entrance to public pools is free of charge. This makes it a good idea to choose a swim that ends at a public pool so you can have a shower afterwards.edit

Tramdepot, [26]. Just next to the bear pits you'll find the tram depot, the old final station of Berne's first tramway. The building now houses the town's most popular brewpub, and the tourist office, with free shows on the city's history at regular intervals.edit

Gurtenfestival, [27]. In July the Gurten hill is host for an open air festival with many national and international music acts. During these four days you will find a party crowd of up to 25'000 people on the hill day and night.1 day pass CHF 75, 2 days 115, 3 days 155, 4 days 195. edit

shnit International Shortfilmfestival, [28]. Since 2003 the annual festival celebrates every October in Bern the art of short films. shnit is one of the largest short film festivals in the world, playing in 10 different cities simultaneously - attracting in Bern 25.000 attendances.edit

International Jazzfestival Bern, [29]. A jazz festival with international reputation is held in Berne every year since 1976.edit

Buskers Bern, [30]. Since a few years the annual street musician festival is taking place in the picturesque old town streets. You don't need to buy a ticket but are encouraged to buy a festival pin or give donations to the musicians which come from all around the world.edit

Berne is home to the prestigious University of Berne [74] which currently enrolls approximately 13,000 students. In addition, the city has the University of Applied Science also known as Berner Fachhochschule. There are also many vocational schools and an office of the Goethe Institut.

As with most other cities in Switzerland, store opening and closing hours in Berne are strictly regulated. All stores, including grocers, close by 7PM or 7.30pm from Monday to Friday, except on Thursdays when they remain open until 9.30PM. Aldi supermarkets are an exception, closing at 8PM during the week. On Saturdays everything must close by 5PM. On Sundays, all stores are closed, except for those in the main railway station, which are open 7 days a week until about 10PM, and which include Migros and Coop supermarkets.

Rathausgasse and the streets parallel to it have any number of cute shops with an amazing range of handicraft and luxury goods. This is not the normal range of swiss souvenir stuff, but really interesting things. There are a couple of worthy examples below, but the real pleasure is in spending a few hours (or days) exploring the arcades and vitrines.

There are several used book stores that carry cheap books in German, English and French:

Bücherbergwerk Monbijou, Monbijoustrasse 16 (on the street through which tram line 9 descends from Hirschengraben near the main station, in the basement of the building marked ''SWICA''), ☎+41 (0)31 381 71 25. Open Tu-F 10AM-5PM and Sa 11AM-3PM. The used books store of the Swiss Workers' Aid Society.edit

This guide uses the following price ranges for a typical meal for one, including soft drink:

Budget

Under CHF 25

Mid-range

CHF 25 to CHF 50

Splurge

Over CHF 50

Eating in Berne (or almost anywhere in Switzerland for that matter) can be an expensive proposition for foreign tourists. Be sure to "shop around" before deciding on a restaurant as many of them cater to foreign tourists (especially those serving traditional Swiss food) and have inflated their prices accordingly. Most Bernese natives prefer Italian, Asian, or other non-local cuisine so finding a traditional Swiss restaurant with acceptable prices can often be a daunting experience. Be patient and you will persevere without breaking the bank.

Äss-Bar Bern, Marktgasse 19, 3011 Bern (In a lovely Cellar), [32]. Bakery-Store that sells good quality produce from local bakeries. They sell 'fresh from yesterday' which means products that could not be sold in other bakeries are sold in Äss-Bar instead of being thrown away. Therefore all is about half price from local bakeries.Sandwiches up to 3 Swiss Francs, Pastry only 2 Swiss Francs. So basically you get good food for good price and fight food waste at the same time.[www.facebook.com/aessbarbern]Budget. edit

Café Fédéral, Bärenplatz 31, ☎+41 (0)31 311 16 24, [35]. Stylish, modern atmosphere and international cuisine. Situated in front of the Bundeshaus, its popularity amongst politicians during the "Session" is legendary. Specializes in Entrecôtes (a kind of steak), but has other dishes, including vegetarian ones. edit

Casino Restaurant, Herrengasse 25, ☎+41 (0)31 328 03 28 ([email protected]), [36]. Centrally located, with a view over the river and mountains on the South. Dishes include excellent pasta with mushrooms, fish, and meats, served throughout the day. CHF 25-45 for a main dish.edit

Kornhaus, Kornhausplatz 18, ☎+41 (0)31 327 72 70 (fax: +41 (0)31 327 72 71), [37]. The room alone is worth a stop at this fabulously appointed mostly Italian restaurant. As one might guess from the name, the building was originally built for grain storage, but now features fresco paintings of traditional swiss scenes, events from local history, and related characters. CHF 26-45 for the main dish. CHF 9-14 for appetizers.. edit

Lötschberg, Zeughausgasse 16, ☎+41 (0)31 311 34 55, [38]. A centrally located restaurant with rustic interior, serving typical Swiss food like rösti or cheese fondue and raclette, as well as a large range of Swiss wines.CHF 25-40 for a main dish. edit

Schmiedstube, Schmiedenplatz 5, ☎+41 (0)31 311 34 61, [39]. Open Mon to Sat 8:30AM - 11:30PM. German, French, Italian, English and Spanish spoken. This traditional Swiss restaurant is well known for its typical dishes, such as Röschti, Cordon Bleu, Älplermakkaronen. Its location in the heart of Berne (300 ft from the clock tower "Zytglogge") makes it an ideal resting stop while you're enjoying the city of Berne.edit

Schwellenmätteli, Dalmaziquai 11, ☎+41 (0)31 350 50 01 ([email protected]), [40]. Terrace Open Mon to Sun 8:00AM - 24:00PM. A very nice restaurant at the side of the river Aare with a nice view on the Cathedral.CHF 20-40 for a main dish. edit

Bellevue Palace, Kochergasse 3-5, ☎+41 (0)31 320 45 45 (fax: +41 (0)31 47 43), [41]. Berne's N° 1 address. Stylish hotel and restaurant; has its price. Go there when the Parliament is in session, and you may very well see the president of Switzerland having lunch.edit

Kornhauskeller, Kornhausplatz 18, ☎+41 (0)31 327 72 72 ([email protected]), [42]. Restaurant in the city center with many great menus, wines and drinks.edit

Many Bernese will tell you that nightlife in Berne is not exactly what you might call spectacular, but they're probably comparing it to Zurich or Paris. There are quite a few good spots to hang out at.

For a drink or two, there's a wide choice of bars all over town. However, you might be disappointed with most central options as they tend to be annoyingly conventional, though there are an ample number of exceptions:

Café Kairo, Dammweg 43, 3013 Bern, [44]. Another nice choice in the same area as Du Nord. edit

Brasserie Lorraine, Quartiergasse 17, ☎+41 (0)31 332 39 29 ([email protected]), [45]. Alternative restaurant with a cute garden to sit in. Located in the Lorraine area of town, although a bit hidden.edit

Most of the towns cooler bars are located around the main clubbing venues though. In the ancient Matte neighborhood, which is well worth a daytime visit too, you'll find nightlife options for almost every taste.

Dampfzentrale, Marzilistrasse 47, ☎+41 (0)31 310 05 40, [46]. In this former electricity facility you'll find an excellent restaurant and bar, along with lots of cultural pearls. They specialize in urban, jazzy, electronic music and dance performances. Definitely a gem!edit

PROGR_center for cultural production, Waisenhausplatz 30/ Speichergasse 4, ☎+41 (0)31 318 82 70, [47]. Close to the Reithalle and even closer to the city center, you will find the PROGR. More than 100 artists, dancers, actors and musician have their studios here. It's large courtyard with the CaféBar Turnhalle is a real oasis. From September to June, they offer a cultural program with exhibitions of experimental and contemporary art, theater, performance, lectures and regular concerts on Sunday nights (jazz- connected, world women voices).edit

Reitschule, Neubrückstrasse 8, ☎+41 (0)31 306 69 69, [48]. Next to the central train station is Berne's most important center for alternative culture. The huge brick building is visible from far, easy to recognize by its abundant graffiti art on the façade and roof. Reitschule has the status of an autonomous cultural center, which means in firm language that it's a no-police zone. This of course gives it a bit of an anarchist touch, a touch of "anything goes". And indeed, anything does go: Reitschule features a theater, a cinema, a women's room and two concert/dancing venues, all dedicated entirely to alternative culture. Recent concerts included rjd2, Metalheadz or DJ Babu. The center as a whole is a unique experience and a must-see for anyone who has an interest in contemporary urban culture.edit

Silo Bar, Mühlenplatz 11, ☎+41 (0)31 311 54 12, [49]. Also in the Matte, this is a popular student hangout and disco. Admission is free and the place gets really packed on weekend nights. A nice place if you don't mind the sound (a mix of mainstream hits).edit

Wasserwerk Club, ""Wasserwerkgasse, [50]. This is one of Berne's traditional clubbing and concert venues for urban music. It actually features two parts: Sportwerk The very welcoming, smaller "Sportwerk", which is open all week and free of charge, offers drinks, music, pool, snooker, darts, table soccer and flipper games as well as sport events on TV in a laid back, greenish atmosphere. The bigger part of the club, the actual "Wasserwerk" is open on weekends and features excellent djs and live concerts.edit

Kursaal-Bern (Meridiano), Kornhausstrasse 3 3000 Bern 25, ☎+41 (0)31 339 55 00, [51]. Tuesday to Friday 11.30 – 14.00 and 18.00 – 24.00 hrs. Saturday 18.00 – 24.00 hrs. Sunday & Monday closed. The Meridiano is renowned far beyond the borders of Bern for its welcoming hospitality. And for its innovative cuisine - prepared to perfection by our Chef de Cuisine Markus Arnold and his team. The restaurant has been awarded 16 GAULT-MILLAU points and one MICHELIN star, testifying to the Meridiano's superior standards of service and gastronomy. Dishes of distinction are enhanced by the restaurant's refined and elegant interior. Guests are also offered fine views extending over Switzerland's captivating capital to the surrounding scenic countryside Markus Arnold describes his culinary style as "light contemporary cuisine of the highest quality, created exclusively from market-fresh ingredients of the finest quality. Authentic aromas and products of purity are my paramount priority."20-76 CHF. edit

This guide uses the following price ranges for a standard double room:

Budget

Under CHF 150

Mid-range

CHF 150 to CHF 300

Splurge

Over CHF 300

The main train station has a tourist office on the west side on the ground floor. They'll try to help you find a hotel room, if you arrive without booking. However, it is better to book ahead if you can, as Berne is a capital city; the budget hotels do tend to fill up on the weekends.

Berne backpackers - Hotel Glocke, Rathausgasse 75, ☎+41 (0)31 311 37 71 ([email protected], fax: +41 (0)31 311 10 08), [53]. A member of Swiss Backpackers Association, and Located in the center of the old town this highly favored backpacker's hotel is only a 10 or 15 min. walk from the central train station they have Internet, games and laundry facilities, solid security and no more than six beds in a room. There are also kitchen facilities, a big common room with TV, a pool table, games, movies at night, and gift shop.Prices from CHF 31.- per person, per night. edit

Youth Hostel, Weihergasse 4, ☎+41 (0)31 311 63 16, [54]. 187 beds in all, consisting of two, four, five and six-bed rooms and two group rooms, one with eighteen and one with 20 beds. Shower and WC on each floor, the security is lacking though, and theft is common in the dorms, given the area the hostel is located in.edit

Astoria Swiss Quality Hotel, Zieglerstrasse 66, [55]. Tastefully renovated 3*-hotel with a friendly and informal atmosphere, close to the city centre on the “Eigerplatz” (motorway exit “Berne Forsthaus”). Awarded Swiss Tourism’s Quality Award I, the hotel has 62 spacious and comfortable rooms, a restaurant with bar, conference rooms, w-lan and parking for cars and coaches.edit

Bern Swiss Quality Hotel, Zeughausgasse 9, CH-3011, ([email protected], fax: +41 (0)31 329 22 99), [56]. Charming hotel in the city center of Bern, only 600m from the main station away and 10km from the airport Bern Belp. Single room from 245CHF, double room from 280CHFedit

Kreuz, Zeughausgasse 41, CH-3011, ([email protected], fax: +41 (0)31 329 95 96), [57]. Member of Swiss Quality Hotels International. Located 500m from the railway station directly in the city center. Single room from 144CHF, double room from 208CHF (rates from low season 2009).edit

Metropole, Zeughausgasse 26, CH-3000, ([email protected], fax: +41 (0)31 329 94 95), [58]. Member of Swiss Quality Hotels International. Located 600m from the railway station directly in the city center. Single room from 132CHF, double room from 184CHF (rates of 2009).edit

Bellevue Palace, Kochergasse 3 - 5, ☎+41 (0)31 320 45 45, [59]. This five star hotel provides exquisite rooms and amazingly attentive service. It is situated right next to the Federal Council building, which is appropriate, as it belongs to the state and frequently houses visiting dignitaries and heads of state. The bathrooms alone make this place worth the price, if you can afford it. There is a public bar with tons of old world charm (and a dress code - no shorts, no trainers) on the ground floor, which is usually nice for a quiet drink.Doubles from CHF 350 per night, presidential suite from CHF 2500 a night.. edit

Hotel Bern, Zeughausgasse 9, ☎+41 (0)31 329 22 22 (fax: +41 (0)31 329 22 99), [60]. A good value nearing the upper end the Hotel Bern has a great location, near perfect service and impeccable rooms for somewhat less money than the five star options. The hotel mainly caters to business travelers, which means that they are more likely to be booked up during the week, and more likely to give you a deal on the weekend. Ask for room 508, not just because it's named for the only Swiss astronaut to date, but also because it has a lovely bay window with a view of the cathedral and of course of neighboring rooftops, offering an especially nice view when it snows.Doubles start at CHF 180.. edit

Berne has very little violent crime. However, as it is the capital, political demonstrations occur every few weeks on a variety of subjects, occasionally leading to police intervention.

The central railway station often hosts drunks and vagrants at night, but they are rarely dangerous.

The real problem is groups of drunkards, who should be avoided as they sometimes look for a fight.

While police officers in Berne will happily help you out if you are in trouble or need information, they are also known for approaching "suspicious" persons to check their papers. This procedure is less annoying if you carry a photocopy of your passport and your onward ticket with you and stay calm and polite.